While the Prime Minister and five ministers held a meeting-in-name social gathering with Celeste, Military Affairs Minister Marc Daharat Mengen Pahr was reviewing documents in his office. Recently, information had come in from neighboring countries bordering Humanita territory that Humanita's movements seemed suspicious, so he was examining it.
At such a time, a Humanita-resembling intruder appeared at the royal palace, His Majesty the King claimed the unbelievable—that he was His Majesty's previous life father—showing numerous eccentric behaviors and taming ministers and others through suspicious means like so-called otherworld product monopoly business—actions looking shady from every angle.
That he alone resolved to stay vigilant and clear-headed about that one was no unreasonable story. Above all, the timing of his appearance was too exquisite.
Thinking such things, he heard his adjutant knock on his office door.
"What is it?"
"Sir, Military Affairs Minister Your Excellency.
Regis Celeste has arrived."
Speak of the devil, perhaps?
"My apologies, but please ask him to leave.
Convey that."
"Whaaat?"
Before the adjutant could relay it, someone's exasperated voice was heard.
Apparently he'd been waiting at the door together with the adjutant.
"Celeste Your Excellency, this is troublesome!"
"Stand aside.
Unless you wish to be charged with 'forcibly restraining a Regis.'
Right now I can still let it be 'unavoidably admitted, unable to resist power's tyranny.'"
Already accustomed to wielding power to that extent? Mengen thought.
The adjutant seemed to be shouting something in distress, but ultimately it was just appealing to surrounding Military Affairs staff the alibi of 'tried to stop him, but ultimately couldn't resist power.'
He too was nobility, but merely Vicari—middle class.
Against highest-ranking Regis, it couldn't be helped.
"So, I'll let myself in."
SLAM—the door opened vigorously as Celeste stomped in.
During the brief door opening-closing, glimpsed the adjutant's face looking away in distress.
"Oh my~? I thought I heard you were out, but here you are?
Military Affairs Minister, how wicked. If turning me away at the gate, at least go through with pretending absence?
Moreover, against me who's technically higher-ranked than you?"
Mengen tried pointing out the discourtesy of entering without the room master's permission, but Celeste gave no gap, attacking with 'discourtesy toward superior,' making him unable to say anything.
Certainly, the six ministers were granted appropriate authority, but if accused of discourtesy toward higher-ranking nobility, trouble would be his side.
"I apologize for discourtesy.
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What business brings you?"
Having reached this point, hear the business and have him leave quickly—Mengen thought.
"Ah, I'd like to speak with Military Affairs Minister...
But surely extended private conversation during work hours wouldn't do?
After today's castle departure, any plans?"
"Nothing particular."
While thinking this might become troublesome, lying to escape would only be stopgap. Lying when it wouldn't particularly help—impossible for his personality.
"That's fortunate.
I came to deliver a 'challenge letter' to you."
"Challenge...?"
When Mengen checked in surprise the envelope Celeste offered with fearless smile, it read 'Invitation.'
"...Bad taste joke?"
"No, I'm completely serious though?
Military Affairs Minister, seems we must settle things black and white.
Ah, that said, not dangerous talk like duel applications.
Just want to invite you to our dinner."
"Invite to dinner... you say?"
What exactly the person before him was scheming—for honest-natured Mengen, utterly incomprehensible.
"Right. Not banquet or soirée, just meal invitation, so please come casually.
Ah... if you'd like, shall I pick you up in my 'automobile'?"
At the word 'automobile,' Mengen's eyebrow twitched.
Recently whenever Celeste attended the royal castle, rumors reached his ears of arriving not in beast-drawn carriage but 'self-propelled vehicle.' Honestly impossible not to be curious what that was. However, for him still wary of Celeste, unlike Court Mage Chief Nairan clinging with questions, or like Internal Affairs Minister 'coincidentally encountering Celeste's palace attendance'—such acts seemed impossible.
"No, I'll accept the invitation, but being indebted that far—"
"It's fine. I'm scheduled at the royal castle anyway, and the direction's the same, right? We're neighbors."
"If you insist that much..."
Further refusal would also violate etiquette.
Telling himself 'can't be helped,' Mengen accepted Celeste's invitation and proposal.
......Deliberately ignoring that he'd lost to the unknown temptation called automobile.
"Come to think of it, do you drink alcohol?"
"Not that I can't drink."
"That's perfect."
'Planning evening drinks?'
Mengen didn't think deeply about it then.
"Then I'll come again at castle departure time. Agreed?"
"As you please."
Thinking it fortunate Celeste withdrew unexpectedly docilely, Mengen answered thus.
That evening, among departing officials, hearing that someone not from Alabaster Hall—moreover the Military Affairs Minister—would ride Regis Celeste's 'automobile' that had somehow become the royal castle's 'specialty,' many became onlookers thinking they'd see a rare sight.
"I wanted to ride too! Unfair!"
Comis Nairan, who'd been aiming for opportunities to ride the automobile, regretted it biting her handkerchief.
"Now now, today I have prior engagement with Internal Affairs Minister."
Pacifying her, he guided Mengen to the passenger seat.
"Yes, enter from there, sit in that seat. And this belt—"
"Rather than sitting, isn't this almost lying down?"
What Celeste had materialized was a certain Italian supercar.
During materialization somehow, instead of the original engine it became an electric vehicle, so couldn't hear the original supercar's monster engine roar, but in this world without gas stations, rather convenient.
After all, Alabaster Hall could solar-power generate and charge electric vehicles.
"Well, that's what makes it a good car - the reclined position.
That seatbelt I just fastened, it's properly secured, right?
Then let's go."
WHIRR—
With faint motor sound, the car started moving without shaking.
"Wha—?"
The moment the automobile started moving with strange sound—no beasts, no vibration—though not showing on his face, Mengen felt instinctive fear.
What kind of existence was Celeste, commanding such things?
Though still harboring Humanita suspicions, he couldn't believe those barbaric lot could do such things.
To Mengen circling such thoughts, Celeste addressed him as if talking to himself.
"I heard, about Humanita."
"What about them?"
"Various things.
That they call His Majesty 'Demon King.'
Unforgivable, those lot."
"I see."
Only able to answer thus, no particular topics coming to mind, silently watching scenery flowing past the car window—Mengen noticed the automobile heading not toward their mansion direction but toward outer castle exit.
"Regis Celeste? This isn't mansion direction—"
"I know.
Since we have the chance, thought I'd floor it."
"......Floor it?"
Having arrived at outer castle checkpoint before he knew it, Celeste lowered the window and addressed the guard soldiers.
"Regis Celeste and Marc Mengen.
Leaving castle on confidential business.
Even if we don't return in time, go ahead and close the gates."
"Y-yes sir!"
The outer castle guards froze—two highest-ranking nobles suddenly appearing riding a monster.
Just two nobles appearing here was astonishing enough, but those two appearing riding a black monster, saying 'confidential business'...
Probably would be popular at drinking parties with just this topic for a while.
"Well, we've come out where there seem to be no passersby... shall we floor it?!"
"Floor what... waaah!?"
At acceleration felt for the first time in his life, even veteran warrior Daharat Mengen could only be struck speechless, clinging to the seatbelt.
